The World Book of Early Learning offers narrated stories, interactive games, educational videos, leveled reading practice, and a visual interactive encyclopedia to make learning fun for preschoolers and children in early elementary grades.

The stage is set for your senses to sing as you engage in the pleasure of reading during June and July as part of Summer Reading. Whether you’re two or 102, enjoy reading (or listening) to whatever books strike your fancy and earn prizes just for keeping track of your time spent reading or the books read. An exciting line-up of free programs will add to the fun. Participating is easy! Just visit the Summer Reading website to register and start logging your reading from June 1-July 31. Then come to any Library location and claim your prizes! The more you read, the more chances you have to win grand prizes including a family 4-pack of tickets to a Cincinnati Reds game or Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra performance. Plus, much more!

MEET AUTHOR ERIK LARSON

Renowned author, historian Erik Larson will be at the Main Library on Saturday, May 5 at 2:00 p.m. to speak and sign books in the Reading Garden Lounge. Larson is the author of In the Garden of Beasts, The Devil in the White City, Thunderstruck, and Isaac’s Storm. Books will be available for purchase from Joseph-Beth Booksellers. The lecture is free but tickets are still available for the Library Foundation’s special event with the author. Enjoy lunch with the author, front row seats for his talk, and an autographed copy of his latest book, In The Garden of Beasts. Tickets are $100 each. For more information or reservations, go to the Library Foundation’s website.

MEET BEN-GAL CHEERLEADER & AUTHOR LAURA VIKMANIS

Cincinnati Ben-Gal cheerleader Laura Vikmanis will visit the Main Library’s Reading Garden Lounge on Saturday, May 12 at 2:00 p.m. to discuss her new book, It’s Not About the Pom-Poms: How a 40-Year- Old Mom Became the NFL’s Oldest Cheerleader—And Found Hope, Joy and Inspiration Along the Way. The Jr. Ben-Gals will also perform. Books will be available for sale courtesy of Joseph-Beth Booksellers, and a signing will follow the presentation.

BOOK LAUNCH CELEBRATES CINCINNATI’S CHORAL HISTORY

The book launch of A City That Sings: Cincinnati’s Choral Tradition 1800–2012 will take place at the Main Library on Sunday, May 20 at 2:00 p.m. in the Reading Garden Lounge. The May Festival’s new book is the first full-length chronicle of the Queen City’s contributions to choral music, ranging from church choirs and community choruses to concert halls and lavish festivals. The program will include a panel discussion featuring the book’s four authors—Frank Pendle, Karin Pendle, Craig Doolin, and Catherine Roma—moderated by Cincinnati Pops Orchestra conductor John Morris Russell, brief performances by MUSE Cincinnati Women’s Choir and the Martin Luther King Chorale, followed by a book signing. Books will be available for purchase from Joseph-Beth Booksellers.

QUEEN CITY OF SONG EXHIBIT DEBUTS

Experience Cincinnati’s choral music history through a dynamic exhibit in the Main Library’s Joseph S. Stern, Jr. Cincinnati Room. On display from May 1 through September 4, the exhibit spotlights Saengerfest dating back to 1838 and its ties to the Cincinnati May Festival and Music Hall; 100 years of church and school choirs; and Cincinnati’s African American choral traditions. Also on view will be early choral music and hymnals published in Cincinnati.

WORLD’S LARGEST RED CARD DANCE PARTY

Win great prizes and be part of the fun when Local 12’s Bob Herzog, the Cincinnati Reds, and the Library team up for the “World’s Largest RED Card Dance Party” on Fountain Square Monday, May 21 at noon. Bring your RED Library card (or sign up for one on the spot) to be eligible to win one of 20 pairs of Reds tickets or a Sony e-reader and then help us set a world record of the most people holding up Library RED cards in one spot! The Reds Rover, Gapper, and maybe even some Reds players will be on hand. Plus, beginning on May 7 cardholders can get 1/2 off on tickets for standard seating locations for the Reds vs. Braves game on May 21 by going to Reds.com/RedCard. Join us on the Square for your chance to be in the record books!

LEARN SIGN LANGUAGE

Are you interested in learning American Sign Language? The Library’s new online resource, Signing Savvy, offers high resolution video instruction for signing letters, words, and phrases. It includes the ability to view large sign videos, build your own word lists and share them with others, create virtual flash cards and quizzes, print signs, and more. Visit the Library’s website for details.

FRAME CINCINNATI PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

Would you like your photographs to be on view at the Main Library during FotoFocus Cincinnati, a month-long biennial celebration spotlighting independently programmed exhibitions of historical and contemporary photography and lens-based art, which will be held in October? To be among the region’s best photographers showcased at the Main Library, students and adults are invited to enter our Frame Cincinnati Photography Contest between May 1 and July 31. Co-sponsored by the Photography Club of Greater Cincinnati. Visit our websitefor contest rules and submission forms.

PUT TOGETHER A BUSINESS PLAN

New and prospective business owners are invited to a free three-part series of instructional workshops focused on writing business plans presented by SCORE, America's Counselors to Small Business, and the Library. Your Business—It Starts with a Plan will take place at the Main Library on Saturdays, May 12, 19 & 26 from 9:30 a.m.—12:30 p.m. Experts from the business world will focus on how to succeed as a small business owner and how to create a business plan to help you fund and manage your business. To reserve your place, call (513) 369-6900.

SIGN UP FOR YOUR FAVORITE HOT AUTHORS

Hot Authors, a service that gives our customers the opportunity to automatically receive the latest novels from over 90 popular fiction writers, has expanded! You can now have your name automatically added to a holds list for future novels by Kelley Armstrong, Jennifer Chiaverini, Ted Dekker, Christine Feehan, Elin Hilderbrand, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Brad Thor, and Adriana Trigiani. Signing up for Hot Authors is easy—enter your library card number and PIN, tell us where you would like to pick up your books, then select your favorite novelists. We take care of the rest!

BEAT THE BOREDOM WITH BRAIN CAMP

School's almost out but that doesn't mean our children's brains have to close down. All sorts of great free programs will be happening all summer long at the Library, including Brain Camps. From June 4—August 10, the Main Library will offer fun, stimulating, and creative enrichment activities to engage kids. Brain Camp participants will enjoy computer activities, outdoor play, books, group lessons, and crafts centered on a weekly theme. Visit the Library's website for details or to register.

Access to Ohio Benefit Bank Now Available

The Library now has a direct link from its website to the Ohio Benefit Bank, an Internet-based service that connects low- and moderate-income families to tax credits and work supports that help in their day to day lives. Ohio’s citizens seeking food assistance, Medicaid, or cash assistance can go to Ohio Benefit Bank to estimate their potential eligibility for 20 benefit programs. They can then submit one application that can be used for all the programs they qualify for. Click here to access Ohio Benefit Bank.

MEET ROMANCE WRITER LUCY MARCH

Magical romance writer Lucy March—also known as Lani Diane Rich—will discuss her latest romance novel, A Little Night Magic, at the Covedale Branch Library on Saturday, May 5 at 1:00 p.m. A question and answer session will follow the free presentation in addition to a book signing and reception.